Halve Your Workload! In Just 6 Easy Steps!

Last week at Early Service Training I, along with two other volunteers focusing on Teacher Training, had the opportunity to present a session on that topic. Based on our discussion with TEFL volunteers and PC Azerbaijan's TEFL focus of sustainability we thought this might be of use. We were lucky to have a great audience that remained enthused and engaged even though we were towards the end of the day.

The bulk of new material was on a six step process that has been shown to effectively work with training Azeri teacher counterparts. But really, its just a six step process in Tier 2 training-training of trainers. When working with people who already have a knowledge base its important to sincerely view them as a partner in mutual learning, rather than of expert and learner. This is especially the case when there are differences in age, presumed experience, education level, or anything else that could create a perceived power dynamic.

Below is our presented six step process, adapted to fit a more general audience (what? you're not all working with Azerbaijani teachers?). By 'method' I mean whatever technique, skill, competency, etc you are wishing to develop.

1) Ask permission to showcase a new method in context (workplace, classroom, etc). This acknowledges your respect for their involvement in the working environment and highlights partnership rather than lecture. This also informs them you will be doing something new.

2) Use the new method. Tell them shortly beforehand so they are aware.

3) Immediately after the situation in which the method was used, ask them what they saw. Ask follow up questions to whatever observations they made. Stay positive and explain any areas of non-understanding that they have themselves brought up.

4) Repeat steps 1-3.

5) Inform them they will be using the method next time. Give them enough time to prepare and, if possible, set a specific date and time for when the method will be used.

6) Praise and give constructive feedback. Ensure that you have specific observations for both praise and constructive feedback. If this is their first try, it is far more important to highlight what went well, so they can continue developing that, than pointing out what went wrong. Ask for their own observations.

This really doesn't take much time as its designed to be largely observational. The extra 'work' involved (asking follow up questions, etc) was all designed to be completable in 3-5 minutes, or the average length of time a PCV has with a teacher after class, but before they get to the teacher's room, where its time to socialize.

How do you teach others? What strategies and techniques work have worked for you?

I'm Sure Azeri Plumbing Is Pretty Simple to Figure Out

Last week was busy. It began Saturday hosting a brunch full of Americans and Azeris. Sunday, my friend Emily visited for 4 days and Wednesday I hosted all the surrounding TEFLs for dinner and drinks and brunch the next morning, after which we all went down to Baki for our Early Service Training Conference. Each night was a late night, Friday especially as we found a great bar with an even better cover band and we danced the night away.

So, arriving home Saturday, after the last person had left my house (I'm a pretty natural stop off point for many people), I was relieved to have some quiet time to myself. While preparing dinner I realized that there was no water. "That's odd" I thought "I specifically filled up the tank Thursday morning in anticipation of not wanting this exact thing to happen." Thinking no more on it, I cooked dinner and left the dirty dishes for tomorrow's clean up.

I was exhausted from the week and set my alarm for 8:10 so I could turn my water on and go back to sleep. Groggily I pulled myself out of bed in response to the beep and stumbled down the hall switching on the valves. Eyes still half-closed, I was heading back to bed when I heard a sound that was certainly not the sound of a filling water tank. I followed the sound to my sink room and was snapped awake by water gushing out of the connection piece from my pipe to faucet, water spraying wall and ceiling far more than floor.

I didn't even have my glasses on, and was already soaked simply from my efforts to turn off the water. I rushed back to get my glasses, a wrench, and plumbers tape. As I stepped over the threshold, I knew that I had become what every wife dreads-the man who is about to 'fix' his own plumbing. I have no clue how I kidded myself I knew what I was doing, I don't even understand how it is that my hot water tank brings water to the hot water faucet. Somehow I managed to isolate the leak and bring the ranging torrent to a sharp stream, shooting my up at my mirror at a 60 degree angle.

At this point I made myself a pot of coffee and started texting. The text ran something like : 'Hey-do you know any plumbers, also do they have plumbers here, also how much do they cost?' Never before in Azerbaijan have I been so happy to have Azerbaijani friends; within 10 minutes Elvin offered to come over to check it out, where he also took a swing at it with the wrench. We called, and picked up, my landlady and agreed that we had to find a plumber. And also to empty the water tank because the neighbors downstairs were beginning to complain.

As of Monday morning my plumbing was fixed. Not only that, but he also improved the pressure of my hot water faucet. And he fixed my toilet!-no more bucket flushing for me. It also provided me with a great opportunity to give a gift to my landlady for some much needed brownie points.

Eggs in Space

A PCV and I do a Conversation Club for advanced English students. We structure it by determining 'Life Skill Units' and creating 3-4 lesson plans for each one. Currently we're in our Problem Solving Unit and Lannea came up with this great activity.

Eggs in Space: A Problem Solving Conversation Club from josh on Vimeo.

Achievement Unlocked: 100 Posts

With my last post on Chocolate Banana Pancakes, I officially, and deliciously hit 100 posts. There's nothing really significant in and of itself in this number, just triple digits, but it does give me a bit of pride.

And here, as a pathetically obvious attempt at increased hit count, are a review of my 5 most popular posts from the first 100.

Number 5: The Moustache Project

This is where I introduce the Moustache Project, documenting profiles with felt moustaches, inspired by a care package sent by Margaret and Nick. Unfortunately with the death of my camera battery in November and the replacement only now being en-route this project has been put on temporary hiatus. However, the pics up there now are still great.

Number 4: And for those who wanted to know…my birthday!

I was surprised that the description of my birthday was in the top 5 but apparently there was a high demand on how I spent my first eve as a 28 year old. This also includes the crucial advice from a former pizza making professional of making the perfect pie: topping management.

Number 3: Response to The 99% '20 Questions to Ask'

One of my favorite websites,the 99%, posed an asked twitter followers what their favorite interview questions were and presented their favorite 20 in an article. As someone who has done a fair bit of interviewing himself I found some questions interesting, some arrogant, and some not-quite there. This post is my commentary for each question.

Number 2: Getting Lost in Baki

This was my first trip to Baki. It was a really fun group we got to go with and the photos turned out pretty well too.

Number 1: Time for the Year End Roundup

One thing I've been amazed at in Azerbaijan is how I haven't really skipped a beat in music. Aside from the fact that I can no longer go to concerts, I've still been keeping up with whats new and whats good. This is my 2010 year end roundup, which also includes a link to a 21 song mix I made highlighting the best of 2010. New Kanye, new Robyn, new LCD, new Four Tet, I am still amazed at what a great year 2010 was for music.

I Mean, It Just Sounds Tasty

Khachmaz is unique amongst sites in Azerbaijan. Its a little more liberal than most of the country, due to its proximity to Baki and Russia. Many people in Khachmaz speak English quite well, and some of them have been to the US to study. Peace Corps has been at this site for a while, so Azeris are used to seeing Americans around, and many adults here have been friends with Americans for years. Due to all these reasons, Volunteers here end up having an active social life amongst Azerbaijanis.

There's a large base of support for clubs here, so that fills up our time, but there is also a large circle of friends. Visiting with them, guesting at houses, playing sports, all of this is in my schedule. And birthdays. With so many people comes so many birthdays. And each birthday is a birthday party, involving an of-average-tasting cake, balloons, candles, tea, pop, coffee, and juice. Usually we'll have it at my Fargani's office or a popular bakery, neither of those places are relatively comfortable.

These parties wouldn't be a big deal except for the fact that they are pretty expensive for a poor volunteer when the result is, in my opinion, a pretty weak party. It's 3-5 manat a piece and we might collect 50 manat or more to throw a party. In terms of purchasing power, this might translate to around 120 US dollars. So last party I suggested something different; hosting the party at my house, which is way more comfortable, and making a really big and fun brunch. One of the girls, Sabina, loved this idea, everyone else did their best to appear unscandalized.

So, we had the lame party. And at this lame party Sabina and I decided that our idea was a great idea anyways, and we announced that next week, we would be hosting a brunch at my house featuring Chocolate Banana Pancakes. This was my first time hosting for a gathering of Azeris, rather than just Americans, so I was pretty excited. Socializing in Azerbaijan frequently involves drinking tea (very) late into the night and I'm not as into that form of hosting. However, brunch parties are right up my alley so I was glad when people, with the birthday now passed, were receptive.

So yesterday I had my housewarming party. Some of the guys had been over before, but women had not. Since this was a large group and it was during the day, it was much more acceptable for women friends to come over. In addition to pancakes, we had fresh fruit and yogurt, nuts and raisins, coffee, tea, and juice. Everyone had a great time and complimented the apartment. It was delicious, especially in comparison to the birthday cake.

This served as the beginning of a week of hosting. Today, my friend from Goychai, which is in the middle of the country, will be coming up to stay with me for 4 days. On Wednesday, 5 other friends will come up for a big dinner and sleepover before we leave, on Thursday, for a conference in Baki. I'm looking forward to this conference for two reasons; I'll get to see many people I haven't seen since December and I will be presenting a session on effective 2nd tier training (training of trainers). More on this late